International Law and Justice
The LLM program in International Law and Justice offers students the opportunity to gain an advanced understanding of human rights protection and promotion on international, regional, and domestic levels. The degree is designed primarily for lawyers and students who work or intend to pursue a career in the public sector, including high-level government attorneys, leaders in nongovernmental organizations, and academics. This LLM program was created under the auspices of Fordham Law’s Leitner Center for International Law and Justice, one of the largest and most dynamic human rights programs in the nation. The Center’s Vivian Leitner Global South LLM Scholars Program offers generous scholarships and stipends to enable select graduate students from the developing world to enroll in this program.
-
Each student is required to complete a minimum of 24 credits of approved courses; the maximum number of credits permitted is 30.
Full-time students take 10-15 credits per semester (11-13 recommended); part-time students take 2-9 credits per semester and must complete the program within 24 months of starting. Up to 4 credits may be taken during summer terms.
-
The 24-credit minimum must include 12 credits of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the International Law and Justice program.
The 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must include the following Core Course:
- International Law
Remaining credits needed to fulfill the 12-credit Specialization Distribution Course requirement must be chosen from among the wide selection of Specialization Distribution Courses approved for the International Law and Justice program (courses designated 'INLJ' on the class schedule on the registrar's website).
-
All LL.M. students are required to complete the following course:
- Quantitative Methods for Graduate Students (required in first semester of study)*
All LL.M. students who do not hold a J.D. from a U.S. law school are additionally required to take the following courses:
- Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Process (required in first semester of study)**
- Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students (required in first semester of study)**
- Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession***+
- At least 6 credits of Content Outline courses***
- Fundamental Lawyering Skills for LLM Students****
- 2 credits of experiential coursework****
Students are required to take Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Process and Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students during their first semester of study in the LLM program.
Note: If a course fulfills both a Specialization Distribution Course requirement and a Content Outline requirement, the course may count toward both requirements. For example, Family Law counts towards the Specialization Distribution Course requirement and also counts toward the Content Outline requirement.
* Students who completed a similar course in their prior studies, or who have significant business, tax, or other experience that provides them with sufficient knowledge of this topic may seek a waiver by submitting the Request for Waiver from LL.M./M.S.L. Program Requirements form. Late registrants who are unable to register due to enrollment limits must take this course in their second semester of study.
**Students who are admitted to the New York bar may seek waivers from Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Process and/or Legal Writing and Research for LLM Students by submitting the online Request for Waiver from LL.M./M.S.L. Program Requirements form. However they are not encouraged to do so as these courses provide a fundamental base of knowledge and skills that are extremely useful for attorneys in the U.S. and that will be useful for all other U.S. law school classes.
*** Students who are admitted to the New York bar or who do not intend to sit for the New York bar may seek a waiver from Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession and/or the Content Outline course requirement by submitting the online Request for Waiver from LL.M./M.S.L. Program Requirements form.
**** These courses are required for students following "Pathway 1" of the New York Court of Appeals §520.18 Skills Competency Requirement for Admission. (These requirements do not apply to students who began their studies prior to Fall 2018, and can be waived for the following students who begin their studies in fall 2018 or later: (1) Students who are already admitted to the New York bar (or who do not plan to sit for the New York bar examination); (2) Those who are authorized to practice law in another U.S. jurisdiction or any other country outside of the U.S. and can establish that that they have been in good standing and practiced law in that jurisdiction full-time for at least one year (or half-time for two years).
+In lieu of Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession and Process, students may substitute a three-credit Professional Responsibility course, including those courses that are focused on a particular area of practice.
+In lieu of Introduction to the U.S. Legal Profession and Process, students may substitute a three-credit Professional Responsibility course, including those courses that are focused on a particular area of practice.
-
Any remaining credits may be chosen from among the wide variety of courses that are open to LLM students, as indicated on the class schedule on the registrar's website. For most classes that are closed to LLMs, students may be admitted on a space available basis by submitting the Request to Enroll in a Closed Course form.
-
Scholarship Applicants
Prospective students applying for the Vivian Leitner Global South scholarship for the LLM in International Law and Justice must submit their application directly to the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School. For application instructions and deadlines, visit the Global South LLM Scholars Program webpage.
Scholarship applicants who are not awarded the Vivian Leitner scholarship will be given the option to transfer their application to the LLM program office to be considered for regular admission. Applicants will be asked to submit the $70 application fee at that time.
Program Applicants
Applicants who do not wish to be considered for the Vivian Leitner Global South scholarship are welcome to apply for the LLM in International Law and Justice directly through the LLM program office.
A Note Regarding Course Selection for Part Time Students
The LL.M. program strives to ensure that there is a wide range of courses available in the evening in each of our LLM areas of specialization, and to ensure that students will be able to meet their program requirements within their desired time frame for completion. However, it would be impossible to ensure that any specific course will be offered at a time that is convenient to all students. We encourage you to look at the schedules from past semesters, available on the registrar's website, to get a sense of what courses may be offered in the future (noting, of course, that the schedule varies from one semester to the next). Should you find at any time that you are having trouble meeting your program requirements within your desired time frame, you should contact Anthony Agolia at [email protected] to discuss options.
A note regarding course selection for part time students
The LL.M. program strives to ensure that there is a wide range of courses available in the evening in each of our LL.M. areas of specialization, and to ensure that students will be able to meet their program requirements within their desired time frame for completion. However, it would be impossible to ensure that any specific course will be offered at a time that is convenient to all students. We encourage you to look at the schedules from past semesters, available on the registrar's website, to get a sense of what courses may be offered in the future (noting, of course, that the schedule varies from one semester to the next). Should you find at any time that you are having trouble meeting your program requirements within your desired time frame, you should contact Anthony Agolia at [email protected] to discuss options.